Over A Quarter Of Sarawak's Adults Not Registered To Vote

Over A Quarter Of Sarawak's Adults Not Registered To
Vote, Malaysian Election Commission
Admits

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear
friends,

We would like to draw your attention to a hidden
scandal, following an astonishing admission by the Malaysian
Election Commission on political rights in Sarawak, East
Malaysia.

According to new figures released by the
Election Commission, 404'996 eligible adults in Sarawak are
not registered as voters. This is 28% of the 1,431,672
Sarawakians aged 21 years and above out of the state's
population of 2,471,140.

The number of unregistered voters
is higher than the number of voters who retained Sarawak
Chief Minister in power in the 2011 state election! On 16
April 2011, Barisan Nasional was returned to power in
Sarawak with 372,379 votes (which earned BN 55 seats)
compared to the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat's
277,329 votes (which won them 15 seats).

The voter
registration process in Sarawak is unnecessarily slow and
complicated, and particularly the opposition parties are
deliberately being obstructed when trying to register their
voters. There has been a shortage of voter registration
forms for years, and repeatedly the Election Commission has
refused voter registrations submitted by the opposition
parties.

A strict control over the voting process and
gerrymandering have been key factors for Malaysia's ruling
Barisan Nasional Coalition to remain in power during five
decades since the formation of the country in 1963.

KUCHING: The Election Commission (EC) is calling on
those who have turned 21 to register as voters.

Eligible
voters can cast their votes in the coming 13th general
election if it is held after August provided they register
with EC by June 30. According to the EC statistics, there
are 1,431,672 Sarawakians aged 21 years and above out of the
state’s population of 2,471,140.

But a staggering
404,996 Sarawakians have not registered as voters despite
being of eligible age.

One of them is 31-year-old Matt Yio
who said: “The country’s political scene does not
encourage many to vote. It is predictable and boring.
Politicians make plenty of promises prior to elections, but
most remain promises. They act out of self-! interest with
voting a routine for a supposedly democratic
country.”

Those who have registered see it from a
different perspective like Anwar Zapari, 26 who said:
“Citizens should do something rather than just complain. I
think it unlikely the political status quo will change much
other than a reduction in the government’s majority. But I
am hopeful for change as without a challenge, one tends to
be complacent.”

He had voted twice during the 2008
parliamentary election and during last year’s state
election.

Steven Lai registered to vote last year. The
29-year-old Kuching native has been staying in Singapore for
the last decade.

“It took me a while to finally realise
that as a Malaysian, I have the responsibility to vote for
my country’s future. I want a government that can move
Malaysia forward, not backward. I hope the people will be
treated equally, especially in education and employment!
opportunities. I also hope for better security and safety
for fellow Malaysians,” he said.

Lai hoped to vote in
the coming election if he could get leave to
return.

Meanwhile, recently registered voter Kimberly
Chee, 23, said she was looking forward to casting her vote
though unsure if her registration would be processed in
time.

“I registered two months ago upon encouragement
from my mother. Honestly speaking, I get my political
updates from my mother who reads about the going-ons and
discusses them with my sister and me. I hope to see positive
change and improvement in our state and country as a
whole,” she said.

Her friend Carol Chin, 23, said she
registered earlier this year after being encouraged by
family members and friends.

“I want to play a part in
deciding the future of our country. I am ready to vote for a
better Malaysia,” she said.

When informed of the June 30
deadl! ine, Chin said youths should register with EC
quickly.

&ldqu! o;They should think of the future and the
change they could bring via their votes. They must grab the
opportunity which is their rights as citizens,” she
said.

Those wishing to register can do so at any post
office or at the EC office at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar. In
addition, they can also register through any registered
political party or logon the EC official website at http://www.spr.gov.my for more
information.

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